I'm currently using 2x16GB DDR5 RAM at 5200 MT/s with an XMP profile and I'm considering upgrading to 2x32GB. My question is whether it's okay to run the 16GB sticks in slots 1 and 3, and the 32GB sticks in slots 2 and 4. Would this setup cause any problems? Should I just use the 2x32GB sticks in slots 1 and 3 and find another use for the 16GB sticks? My motherboard is an Asrock Z690-C/D5. Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Mixing different RAM sizes might work but it's not guaranteed to be stable. If you do this, remember that you'll only get dual-channel performance on half of the new RAM. Also, the RAM will run at the speed of the slowest stick, which can be a waste if you buy faster RAM. With DDR5, getting four sticks to run at their full potential is tougher than with DDR4. You could give it a try, but you might have better luck with just 2 sticks.
The way you described it, you would still achieve full dual-channel since there's an equal amount in each channel.
Thanks for the insight! That makes it clearer.
Running different RAM kits can definitely lead to issues because of the differences in specs. Generally, it's better to stick with fewer sticks, especially if you're considering overclocking. If you don't plan on using more than 64GB, it might be best to retire the old kit completely and maximize performance with the new one.
Thanks for your clarification! I was trying to figure out if it was worth the extra RAM at the cost of speed, and you nailed it.
Different timings and speeds means XMP won't run properly; it'll default to the base speeds. Also, keep in mind that running four sticks could lead to instability.
My CPU is an i7-12700K, so I know the speeds will drop to the lowest. But do you think the two channels (1&3 and 2&4) could run at separate speeds? Would it be wiser to just go with the 2x32GB and take the performance hit?